Retaining assembly for locking disk drive

ABSTRACT

A retaining apparatus in an electronic device includes a bracket, a disk drive, a pair of latch members and a securing member. The bracket includes two side panels. The disk drive is received between the two side panels. The pair of latch members is capable of locking the disk drive in the bracket. Each latch member is rotatably attached to each side panel. The latch member includes a locking portion capable of locking the disk drive in the bracket. The securing member connects with the latch members. The securing member will drive the other latch member when either one is actuated.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a retaining assembly and, particularly, to a retaining assembly for locking a disk drive.

2. Description of Related Art

Disk drives and other peripheral electronic components are frequently mounted on a carrier that can be slidably inserted into a chassis. The carrier usually includes a pair of carrier rails positioned on either side thereof to match the chassis rails. A latching mechanism is usually included to latch the disk drive in the carrier. A drawback of current carriers of removable disk drives is their relatively large size. Additionally, the number of parts required to assemble the carriers increases the cost of the disk drive housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric, exploded view of a first embodiment of a disk drive and a retaining apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an assembled view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the disk drive disengaged from the retaining apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the disk drive engaged in the retaining apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an isometric, exploded view of a second embodiment of a disk drive and a retaining apparatus.

FIG. 6 is an assembled view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the disk drive disengaged from the retaining apparatus of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the disk drive engaged in the retaining apparatus of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is an isometric, exploded view of a third embodiment of a disk drive and a retaining apparatus.

FIG. 10 is an assembled view of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the disk drive disengaged from the retaining apparatus of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of the disk drive engaged in the retaining apparatus of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a retaining apparatus of a first embodiment includes a bracket 10 for accommodating two disk individual drives 20, a latch member 30 capable of locking each disk drive 20 in the bracket 10, an elastic component 40, and a securing member 50. A plurality of mounting holes 21 is defined in two sides of the disk drive 20.

The bracket 10 includes two side panels 11. A pair of flanges 111 is formed on the two side panels 11. A post 112 projects from one flange 111. A first hole 116 is defined in the other flange 111. A pair of pivot portions 113 is formed on the side panels 11. A pivot hole 114 is defined in the pivot portion 113. A plurality of second holes 115 is defined in the side panels 11.

A pair of tabs 31 extends from a middle portion of the latch member 30. A hole 32 is defined in one tab 31. A post 37 protrudes from the other tab 31. A plurality of hooks 33 is formed on a side of the latch member 30. Four connecting portions 34 are formed on four corners of the latch member 30. A protrusion 35 protrudes from the connecting portion 34. A hole 351 is defined in the protrusion 35. A pair of pivot portions 41 extends from two ends of the elastic component 40. A resisting portion 42 is formed on a middle portion of the elastic component 40. Two holes 51 are defined in two ends of the securing member 50.

Referring to FIG. 2, the disk drive 20 is mounted in the bracket 10. The pivot portions 41 of the elastic component 40 are installed in the pivot holes 114 of the side panel 11. The tab 31 of the latch member 30 is pivotably attached to the flange 111 of the side panel 11. The hook 33 of the latch member 30 corresponds to the second hole 115 of the side panel 11. The latch members 30 are oppositely laid on two sides of the bracket 10. The hole 51 of the securing member 50 receives the protrusion 35.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the disk drive 20 is unlocked in the bracket 10, the elastic component 40 drives the latch member 30 to move away from the disk drive 20. An angle (e.g. about 4 degrees) exists between the latch member 30 and the side panels 11. The hook 33 of the latch member 30 disengages from the second hole 115 and the mounting holes 21.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the retaining apparatus is installed in an electronic device, a plate is pressed on one latch member 30. The plate may be a side panel of the electronic device. The hook 33 of one latch member 30 is inserted into the second hole 115 and the mounting hole 21. The latch member 30 is clockwise rotated about the tab 31. The securing member 50 is driven towards the side panel 11. And the hook 33 of the other latch member 30 is driven to insert into the second hole 115 and the mounting hole 21. The disk drive 20 is mounted in the bracket 10.

Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, a retaining apparatus of a second embodiment includes a latch member 30 a. An engaging portion 36 a and a protrusion 352 a are formed on flanges 34 a of the latch member 30 a. A hole 51 a is defined in one end of a securing member 50 a. A groove 52 a is defined in the other end of the securing member 50 a. The groove 52 a includes a wide portion 522 a for installing the engaging portion 36 a and a narrow portion 521 a.

Referring to FIG. 7, the latch member 30 a and the securing member 50 a are installed on the bracket 10. An angle (e.g. about 4 degrees) exists between the latch member 30 a and the side panel 11. A hook 33 a of the latch member 30 a disengages from the second hole 115 and the mounting hole 21. The disk drive 20 is removed from the bracket 10.

Referring to FIG. 8, when the retaining apparatus is installed in the electronic device, the plate is pressed on one latch member 30 a. The plate may be a side panel of the electronic device. The hook 33 a of one latch member 30 a is inserted into the second hole 115 and the mounting hole 21 of the disk drive 20. One latch member 30 a is clockwise rotated about the flange 111 of the side panel 11. The securing member 50 a is driven towards the side panel 11. The engaging portion 36 a is slid into the narrow portion 521 a of the groove 52 a. And the hook 33 a of the other latch member 30 a is driven to insert into the second hole 115 and the mounting hole 21. The disk drive 20 is mounted in the bracket 10.

Referring to FIG. 9, a retaining apparatus of a third embodiment includes a top panel 13 perpendicular to the side panel 11. A post 131 is formed on a middle portion of the top panel 13. A pair of slots 51 b is defined in two ends of a securing member 50 b. A hole 53 b is defined in a middle portion of the securing member 50 b.

Referring to FIG. 10, the post 131 is inserted into the hole 53 b. The securing member 50 b is secured at diagonal to the top panel 13. A protrusion 35 b is inserted into the slot 51 b of the securing member 50 b.

Referring to FIG. 11, the latch member 30 b and the securing member 50 b are installed on the bracket 10. An angle (e.g. about 4 degrees) exists between the latch member 30 b and the side panel 11. A hook 33 b of the latch member 30 b disengages from the second hole 115 and the mounting hole 21. The disk drive 20 is removed from the bracket 10.

Referring to FIG. 12, when the retaining apparatus is installed in the electronic device, the plate is pressed on one latch member 30 b. The plate may be a side panel of the electronic device. The hook 33 b of one latch member 30 b is inserted into the second hole 115 and the mounting hole 21 of the disk drive 20. One latch member 30 b is clockwise rotated about the flange 111 of the side panel 11. The protrusion 35 b of the latch member 30 b is slid in the slot 51 b of the securing member 50 b. The securing member 50 b rotates about the post 131. And the hook 33 b of the other latch member 30 b is driven to insert into the second hole 115 and the mounting hole 21. The disk drive 20 is mounted in the bracket 10.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A retaining assembly in an electronic device, comprising: a bracket comprising two side panels; a disk drive received between the two side panels; a pair of latch members for locking the disk drive in the bracket, each latch member rotatably attached to each side panel, the latch member comprising a locking portion, the locking portion capable of locking the disk drive in the bracket; a securing member connecting with the latch members, wherein when a plate of the electronic device actuates one latch member, the one latch member drives the securing member, and the securing member drives the other latch member to rotate on the bracket to lock the disk drive in the bracket.
 2. The retaining assembly of claim 1, wherein an elastic component is located between the latch member and the side panel to bias the latch member away from the side panel to unlock the disk drive.
 3. The retaining assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch members are laid on the side panels.
 4. The retaining assembly of claim 1, wherein the locking portion disengages from the disk drive when a predetermined angle exists between the latch member and the side panel.
 5. The retaining assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch member comprises a pivot portion that is pivotably attached to the side panel.
 6. The retaining assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch member comprises a first end and a second end, the securing member connects the first end of one latch member to the second end of the other latch member.
 7. The retaining assembly of claim 1, wherein the securing member pivotably connects with the latch members.
 8. The retaining assembly of claim 1, wherein a slide groove is defined in an end of the securing member, a slide portion is formed on the corresponding latch member to slide in the slide groove.
 9. The retaining assembly of claim 1, wherein the bracket comprises a top panel perpendicular to the side panel, the securing member pivotably connects to the top panel.
 10. The retaining assembly of claim 1, wherein two holes are respectively defined in two ends of the securing member, a post projects from the latch member to slide in the hole.
 11. A retaining system in an electronic device, comprising: a disk drive, a mounting hole defined in the disk drive; a bracket comprising two side panels; a pair of latch members for securing the disk drive, each latch member is rotatably attached to each side panel, the latch member comprising a locking portion capable of inserting into the hole to retain the disk drive from moving out of the bracket; and an elastic component formed between the latch member and the side panel, wherein the elastic component biases the latch member to move away from the side panel to unlock the disk drive.
 12. The retaining system of claim 11, wherein the pair of latch members is oppositely laid on the side panels.
 13. The retaining system of claim 11, wherein the locking portion disengages from the disk drive when a predetermined angle exists between the latch member and the side panel.
 14. The retaining system of claim 11, wherein the latch member comprises a pivot portion that is pivotably attached to the side panel.
 15. The retaining system of claim 11, wherein a securing member connects with the latch members and will drive the other latch member when either one is actuated.
 16. The retaining system of claim 15, wherein each latch member comprises a first end and a second end, the securing member connects the first end of one latch member to the second end of the other latch member.
 17. The retaining system of claim 15, wherein the securing member is pivotably connected with the latch members and will drive the other latch member when either one is actuated.
 18. The retaining system of claim 15, wherein a slide groove is defined in an end of the securing member, a slide portion is formed on the latch member to slide in the slide groove.
 19. The retaining system of claim 15, wherein the bracket comprises a top panel perpendicular to the side panel, the securing member pivotably connects to the top panel.
 20. The retaining system of claim 15, wherein two holes are respectively defined in two ends of the securing member, a post projects from the latch member to slide in the hole. 